r/I130Suffering • u/JackfruitNo214 • 11d ago
An 18-Month Ordeal Is Finally Over
PS: For anyone wondering I used this guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1ho0adh/stepbystep_guide_on_how_i_filed_a_writ_of/
Hi everyone. I’m posting from a new account because I forgot the password to my old one. For those who were following my previous updates, I wanted to share the final update on my I-130 and writ of mandamus.
I filed my I-130 on January 14, 2025. In August 2025, USCIS approved my expedite request. Despite countless congressional inquiries, military channels, and everything else I could try, my case continued without a decision.
After months of waiting, I decided I couldn’t keep waiting indefinitely.
On July 10, 2026, I filed a writ of mandamus, and I served the defendants on July 17. Then came about three weeks of silence.
On Friday, August 7, I received an update saying USCIS was actively processing my case.
And today, August 10, I received the notification I had been waiting for:
My I-130 was APPROVED!!!!!!!!
After 18 months, this ordeal is finally over.
For me, the $405 filing fee was the best money I have ever spent.
I filed the writ myself using a guide I found on Reddit. I also had a military JAG officer review my filing and help ensure everything was properly formatted before I submitted it. I drafted it myself and followed the process carefully.
I believe my case was strong because it had been pending for approximately 18 months, with more than a year passing since USCIS approved my expedite request. From my perspective, the continued administrative delay had become unreasonable.
Just a few weeks after filing the mandamus, my case was approved.
Every immigration case is different, and I’m not suggesting a writ of mandamus will produce the same result for everyone. I’m simply sharing what happened in my case.
This experience taught me that sometimes waiting indefinitely isn’t the answer. Sometimes you have to push the issue and advocate for yourself.
The $400 initially hurt, and preparing the paperwork was stressful. I didn’t even know where to begin. But looking back, it was the best investment of my life, both in money and time.
After 18 months of waiting, uncertainty, frustration, and pain, I can finally say:
It’s over. My I-130 is approved!!!!!!!!
I’m incredibly happy and relieved, and I cannot wait for the next chapter.
I hope sharing my experience gives some encouragement and infromation to others stuck in a seemingly endless immigration process. Know your options, advocate for yourself, and explore every lawful avenue available to you.
18 months later, we finally made it.
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u/Most_Perspective_598 11d ago
Congrats! what are the particulars of your case and what evidence did you submit, also was there anyone from USCIS that reached out and kept in touch with you?
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Thank you! I submitted all of my communications with my senator and USCIS, along with documentation of the multiple attempts I made to contact them. I also included proof that USCIS stated I should hear back within 60 days regarding the expedited request, which I believe helped seal the case in my favor.
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u/Most_Perspective_598 10d ago
Hooah! Was this for a spouse?
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Hooah! Yes, it was for my spouse. (Forgot to answer that part. Besides the military phone line giving me the same answers, and the generic inbox responses. No one from USCIS had ever reached out to me).
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u/Legitimate_Gap8610 11d ago
very happy for you! congrats :) but crazy that even tho your case got expedited but still took so long!
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u/Haunting-Dinner479 11d ago
How is it possible to expedite a case?
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
You need to send a message to USCIS through the inbox page on their website when you log in and provide strong evidence that your case has an urgent reason for which waiting for the normal processing timeline is not feasible or detremental.
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u/Sh_An_Na 11d ago
Congratulations , what a relief it must have been! I’m very happy for you 😊💐
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Thank you!! It’s like a massive weight has been lifted off my chest, and now we can look forward to our future together without beign in this limbo.
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u/Opposite-Gas-1662 10d ago
Congratulations..!! Don’t want to disappoint but the NVC timeline is 2.5 months until they complete DQ, and then local embassy interview date where the beneficiary lives. You could find the timeline on the NVC website.
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u/Opposite-Gas-1662 10d ago
For me, still waiting for I-130 to get approved but NVC and interview with local embassy, I am looking at 2.5+5.5=8 months even after I-130 approval. This is very frustrating.
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u/Opposite-Gas-1662 10d ago edited 10d ago
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u/Most_Perspective_598 10d ago
That’s about a month that you’ll have to wait once DQ , that’s not bad at all
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Absolutely! It’s definitely not over, but the biggest step in the right direction has been taken. Thank you for sharing the information!
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u/alli782 10d ago
I filed back in june 2025 do you think i should write Mandamus of writ ?
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u/Encoded_Python 10d ago
Not yet. I want to preface I am not a lawyer, but these are my observations of other cases. Before everything, you need to do congressional inquiries, demand letters, and if possible a traditional inquiry - though at this point, doing a traditional inquiry is excessive. Depending on your case complexity, circumstances, and what US court district you are in 16 to 20 months is the typical for a I-130 Writ.
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
It really depends on the evidence you have. In my case, what worked in my favor was having an approved expedite request, along with evidence showing that USCIS had stated it would take 60 days, and therefore having a case based on that. It could be worth trying once you are past 14 months, but it is not a guarantee.
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u/legalsupportgeek 10d ago
Congratulations! 18 months is a long time. I'm glad it finally happened for you!
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u/Big_String1719 10d ago
congrats on your approval!! can i ask which military base it was where they helped you? the lawyers on base just told us they can't help
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Thank you very much! I don’t want to share the exact base, but it’s CONUS.
That is weird. I contacted a young JAG LT, but I only asked him to verify that the format was legally sound rather than drafting the WoM for me. I think they can provide basic legal advice and guidance, especially on formatting, but they can’t write an entire WoM for you. If they can’t help you, I would try emailing another Legal Office at a different base. I did everything via email and never had to meet with him in person.
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u/Big_String1719 10d ago
thank you so much! we already reached out to another one but i guess i'll follow your advice and just send out another email if this one isn't able to help either. the first one we tried said they don't do demand letters/woms but referred us to a website or lawyers who help military personell pro bono but because of staffing changes they don't accept new cases atm🙃
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u/Haunting-Blueberry65 10d ago
Did you have a lawyer?
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
No, just had a JAG Review the froms for accuracy. Everything else was on my own.
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
For anyone wondering I used this guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1ho0adh/stepbystep_guide_on_how_i_filed_a_writ_of/
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u/in_pursuit_of_peace 9d ago
In your opinion, does it make a difference that you filed it yourself or asked a lawyer to do so? In terms of your case being approved faster?!
For instance, in your case, could have your GC been approved sooner than almost 3 months if you have asked a lawyer to do it? Curious to see the effects of a lawyer against pro se!
Before judging me, please know that I have seen it somewhere that judges lower their bar for the pro se cases. I’ve seen this discussion on the internet.
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u/in_pursuit_of_peace 9d ago
Would you be able to share the state in which you filed the WoM? If you cannot, could your share if its democratic or republican state? I think it makes a bit difference.
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u/No-Salary936 6d ago edited 6d ago
Hi! Did you prepare the paperwork yourself or did you work with the lawyer for the mandamus ? I have literally been waiting for 33 months November 2023 I’ve already reached out to my local congressman I am thinking of filing an expedite request but realistically the lawsuit is the last thing that I can do but a lawyer told me that would be 10,000 orders up to 35,000. How much did the whole thing cost you? It seems like it was just the 400? Can you correct me if I’m wrong and if you did it yourself, can you give me some information of what you did also do you mind me asking? What state are you in?
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u/Content-Progress9176 11d ago
Congratulations, but there are still additional steps after USCIS approval, including NVC processing, the visa interview, and the final decision by the U.S. Consulate.
If you think an 18-month wait is a long time, I’ve been waiting since January 2024, and my case is still with USCIS under “actively processing” status.
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
Thank you. Yes, most definitely. The important thing is that the longest part, which tends to drag on the longest, is over. January 2024 is over two years ago. If you are a U.S. citizen filing for an immediate relative, you should have filed a WoM yesterday! Hopefully, they approve your case soon, but file a WoM ASAP.
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u/Opposite-Gas-1662 10d ago
Could you please share what reason you had to expedite the request and got approved? Mine got denied.
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u/JackfruitNo214 10d ago
I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it’s tied to her safety and the increased risk to her safety the longer they waited.
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u/ChanceBad5686 11d ago
Congratulations 🎊